System of therapeutic treatment



Sept 25, 1951 A. w. scHNKER 2,568,934

^ SYSTEM OF THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT I I Filed April ze, 1947 BY MW@ ATTORNEY atented Sept. 25A, y 1195i OFFICE 2,568,934 c Y SYSTEM oF THERAPEU'TIC TREATMENT Abraham W. Schenker, New York, N.- Y. Appheatierrnprn 2s, 1947, serial No. 744,293

This invention relates todeviees for improving I the circulation of the blood in the human body.

An object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the skeletal muscles of the body may be rhythmically contracted to improve and maintain the circulaton of the blood. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for improving the blood circulation o'f the body, by rhythmically contracting the muscles in the direction of venous flow, the contractions being made to occur in exact synchronism with the arterial pulse rate at all times.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a .device of the character described, in which the magnitude of the muscle contractions lmay be varied in accordance with the specic requirements of the individual under treatment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a source of electric power of a, voltage and frequency suicient, when applied to the body, to bring aboutl a n muscular contraction of the underlyingmusclearwith means for distributing the application of the electric power to a number oflocations upon the patients body, and means for applying the power to said locations rsuccessively in synchronism with the pulse rate of the patient.v Y

Another object of the invention is to provide ya. device of the character described, which is simple in design, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, u

andwhich is highly effective for the purpose of maintaning the blood circulation.

lOther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

f Fig. 1 is a partly schematic view of my improved device, showing the major elements thereof and 5 Claims. (Cl. 128-404) These terminations are called arterioles "be:- cause of their small size. The arterioles connect up with a network of extremely'ne blood vessels, much smaller in diameter than the arterioles. These are the capillaries. The capillary network extends over everyupossible tissue of the body.

the electrical and mechanical connections therein man functions. The heart pumps fresh blood into the arteries which supply every organ of the body. All arteries become progressively smaller in diameter as they lead away from the heart, sothat at their termination they are very tiny.

Thatexplains why Vthe slightest pin prick 'will cause bleeding. Through the walls of these` capillaries, there is a constant interchange of food and gases, which keeps the organism alive. After this exchange has occurred, the blood is no longer fresh and is ready to return to the lungs for al fresh supplyof oxygen, and then to the heart to be pumped away again,r in the new cycle.

Each capillary network'joins with a tiny vein," called a venule, Which, as it enlarges, becomes a full sized vein. The blood emerging from 'the capillaries is at a very low pressure, andas it enters 'the vein on its return to the lungs, it must be aided in its course by additional pressure from other sources, ofA which the main source' resides in the contraction of the skeletal muscles.' As a further aid in the passage of blood along the' veins to the heart, the walls of the veins are equipped With check-valves so that in its upward course, the blood does not flow back. The fresh blood pumped away from the heart to the tissues is called arterial blood, whereas the blood return-v ing to the heart alongthe veins is called venousA blood.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the contraction of muscles s one of the most important factors in returning venous blood to the heart. This explains the importance of exercise` in keeping Well. It also explains Why persons with sedentary occupations do not enjoy the same vigorous health'that'the manual workers or athletes do.

It furtherexplains why people who are bedridden for any length of time become progresa sively weaker. `Convalescense brings :about im?. provement in a persons well-being because of increased physiological activity. In certain diseases, for example, of the heart, physical activity is contra-indicated, yet it is important that the circulation of the blood be maintained, and this can be accomplished mostly by muscle contraction. Many other'examples may be cited which' would illustrate the importance of maintaining y the venous blood return.

From the foregoing, it is seenr how vitala part the venous blood return bears in maintenanceof health. It is therefore obvious that rrr any condition in which there Vis inadequate venous blood return, whether it is by reasonlof .Y ,Ll

sedentary occupation or serious vascular disease, it is imperative that an outside means be provided to restore and maintain a constant venous blood return in synchronsm with the heart beat or arterial pulse rate. The present invention discloses a device by means of which this may be done.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that there I have shown a housing I having front and rear walls I2, side walls I4, and top and bottom walls I6 vand I 8 respectively, defining a dark chamber 20. A transparent shelf 22 is supported inside the dark chamber as shown, and adapted to provide a supportrfor the hand 24 of the patient. The patients arm is inserted into the chamber 20 through' an" opening 26 formed in one of the side walls 14,1entry of light into the chamber being prevented by means of a curtain 28 of felt or other suitable material which bears against the arm surface in such a manner as to block-passage'oflight `between the arm surface and the curtain:v v -f Arsource of light such as-an electric light bulb 30,` is disposed in the chamber beneath the transparent shelf 22, being supplied with electric power vfrom anysuitable source such as the electric power lines. A photoelectric cell 32 -of standard well known construction is mounted on the underside of the topmember I6 so as to be in alignment with thelight source 30 and the patients hand '24.

Theiphotocell is: connected by Ywires 34 to an amplifier of any'well `known type. The output from the amplifier Yleads to acoil of wire 35 surrounding a core 36'to magnetize `the saine. An independent circuit is Vprovided including a current source, suchas'for example the Abattery B, and a solenoid coil 35a adapted to be energized by the said battery'B'whenthe circuit is closed. Aipair of contacts V3l and 31a in the said independentV circuit are normally lheld 'apart by Vthe Spring s and la're"made to contactively engage w'hen the coil `35 isenergized from 'the output of 'the amplierto attract thearm "IIJ against the action of the spring s.

It is'thus seen from the above`des`cription^that when electricv power is generated in the photoelectric cell undertheinfluence of -light received from the light source, it will be amplifled to close the independent circuit and energize .thesolenoid 36a. vThe' hand, in theipath Aof"light from the source'30 will be rendered Vtranslucent during the periods between arterial'pulsations. These pulsations are noticeably recognized by' a rhythmic flicker which occurs with every vpulse beat. Every time a ilicker occurs, it momentarily interrupts the light beam which' passes through the hand to the photoelectric cell. This interruption is made to activateV the solenoid 36a. When this happens, the solenoid core 38 is pulled upwards againstV the action of 'the'spring 12.

At the lower end of thecoreV k38, is mounted a'la'teral arm '4U having'a recess 42 formedtherein for the slidable reception'of a metal or carbon brush 44 which is urged outwardly by means of a spring '48 mounted in the recess, so as to cause the brush tobear against a number of electrical contact members 48 lir'isulated from each other and mounted in anysuitable mannerasin a frame. soas to have their outer' surfaces Vagainst which the brush 44 bears, all lying in the saine vertical plane. f

'In its upward course, Athe core V38, through'its spinglbacked .carbon`.brush '.44, makes .a series l l of electrical contacts with the contact members 4 48 as it passes upwardly thereby and in contact therewith.

A toggle switch 55, mounted on the frame 60, is provided having a lever 56 in the path of downward movement of the arm 40. A second pivotally mounted lever 54 is also mounted on the frame G in the path of upward movement of the arm 40. A lever 52 pivotally interconnects the levers 54 and, 56 so that the movement of one ,lever will correspondingly 'move the other. The levers 54 and 56 'as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 represent their positions when the switch 55 is closed.

vIn Fig.-1,rthe.solenoid plunger arm 40 is shown Vas `having already started its upward travel. llowever,A 'when the said arm 40 has travelled upwardlyhighenough, it will strike the upper toggle lever 54, carrying it upwardly in a clock wisedirection about its pivot pin 58, to the dotted line position shown at 64.

It ywill be seen -that this vupward `movement of the lever 54 `will necessarily carry the'connecting rod 52l 'up'wards as` well as the `l0wier toggle switch *lever156, to its open ordoi'.te'd"-lin'e position, to thus break the electrical c'ontactb-4 tween the brush 44-'ar1d the contact members, by opening the yswitch 55.

The solenoid plunger 38 being atl-itsuppermost position, as above described, -wi11lfthen commence its downward v-travelu-nder the influence of the spring 72, the circuit between Athe brush 44 andy contact members 48 being'open during thisentire downward travel. However, when the plunger reaches its lowermost -positionjits arm 140 'strikes against the lower toggle-switch lever 56 ,pushing it downward, to its normal Vsolid vline position, again closing the switch 55v and carrying -the upper Xlever 54' also to its lowersolid -line position. '-Upon'the followingV upward movement-ofthe brushe, -under the iniiuenceof the next successive pulse beat, the brush44 again traverses and-makesco'ntact with eachl contact-member l48 in Iturn. T-hecontactmembers `48mayfbe'suitably 4insulated from each other `and mounted-|` na frame Aor panel boardvll. Y 1

As shown in Fig. l, activermetal electrodesW are placed in successive positions on one of the body extremities; for example, the leg 52 and one dispersive electrode54 is placed on oragainstf'any other 'convenient'part of the-body; such-V as lthe sole' Vofthe foot. The electrodes-50 are-heldl4in place by bands 50a"and"are of the wellknowntype which tighten'up when energ'ized'by -galvanioor faradic current. Wires-56a and--56bleading-from the switchIi 'and the passive electrode54 respectively are connectedV to a' scurceof low frequency current Q, eithergalvanic or faradic.

Inasmuch as theunitfQisqf a 'type wellkn'own to thoselskilledin' the art.i t'will not'be'described in detail, other 'than to state that 'its power 'in'p'ut is derived ythrough wires,62. Each of thepxdispersive electrodes 50' is 'connected -to'a' corresponding electrical .contactmemher 48 by 'the Wiresa, A' slackl cable J5 interconnects :the 'toggle switch-55 with'the brush' -44.

It will thus be seen that ,inthe upward stroke of the solenoid core 38, a'V series of contacts'fin rapid Vsuccession is `made between the brush-'744 andthe members L48', which 'causes corresponding successivev applicationsof current gfromlthe source Q yto pass-t0 theleeandelectrode 5I and e199 trodestn, causingcrresponidins cQntratiQnS 0f themuscles fof `the1legj52 ofjthe *f patient. It js noted 'that dieser'successivo-1 contractions Voooiir.

only in a direction laway from lthe extremity, that is, in a direction toward the heart. n .l n

In this manner, venous blood is pumped to the heart, thereby simulating naturalmuscular contraction which pumps blood upwards along the veins to the heart. On the return or downward stroke ofthe solenoid core ,3 8, ythe low frequency current source Q is disconnected'as hereinbefore described, so that no current is passed through electrodes u and |54, and therefore no contractions occur on the muscles of the limb in a downward direction, that is, awayirom the heart. l

'f Itv should be noted that anyothersuitable means for producing muscular contractionsmay be substituted for the low frequency currents -described. Also, instead of using a galvanic electrical current, compressed air may be used. Thus, instead of electrodes 5I] and unit Q, a series of suitably designed inflatable cuffs may be fastened to the leg in the positions shown for electrodes 50. These inflatable cus, similar to those of the sphygmomanometer, may be connected to an air compressor, so that instead of a succession of musclar contractions obtained by means of the electrical current, such contractions may be effected by means of compressed air.

Fig. 2 shows another form of the invention, whereby the solenoid 38 may be actuated in synchronism with the heart beat or radial pulse of the patient. As illustrated, there is a table 66 upon which the patient reclines, and strapped to his chest is an electronic pulse microphone pickup 68 which is amplified and adapted to transmit electrical impulses through the wires 34A to the solenoid coil 36. The microphone pickup 68, which is of a design well known to those skilled in the art, acts under the influence of the heart pulsations to actuate the solenoid 36 in the same cyclic manner as do the elements contained in the housing ID of Fig. l. All the other elements are the same as already described for Fig. 1, the only difference being that the device 68 takes the place of the housing l0 and its contents.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modification of the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1 where instead of a hand being placed in the path between the light source 30 and the photoelectric cell 32, only a portion of a ringer may be used to eect satisfactory results. As shown, the light source 80 is housed in a tubular casing 8 I, open at the top and over which the tip of a linger 82 may be placed. A photoelectric cell 83, similar to the cell 32, is mounted directly above and in the path of travel of the light from the source 82, the said cell 83 being suitably housed in a casing 84. A flexible curtain member 85 of lightproof material depends from the housing 84 to prevent loss of light from the source 88 through the ringer 82 and to the cell 83. The output of the cell 83 is connected to the amplier by the wires 86. The housings 8l and 84 may be maintained in desired spaced relationship by a C-clamp member 88 having openings 88 and 90 to accommodate the housings 8| and 84. The housing 8l may be xed to the support 88 whereas the housing 84 may be slidably adjustable to permit proper insertion of the iinger and to regulate the distance of the photocell 83 from the light source 80. A set screw 9i is provided for above mentioned adjustment.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

1. A device for aiding and .maintaining thek circulation ofthe blood, comprising a plurality of` active electrodes adaptedto be placed infcontact with a portion of the body of a patient, a dispersivev electrode adapted .to be placed in contact with another portion ofthe said body,` a source-of electric current connected to saidelectrodes,and means for successively energizing said electrodes in synchronism with the arterial pulse, whereby the blood circulation of the body is main tained.: o.,

2. A device for aiding and maintaining the circulation ofthe' blood, comprising a dispersive electrode adapted to be placed in contact with a portion of the body of the patient, a plurality of active electrodes adapted to be placed in contact with another portion of the body of the patient and arranged in spaced relationship along the direction toward the patients heart, a source of electric power of a form which, when acting upon a body muscle causes the contraction thereof, means connecting said source of power to said electrodes, and switch means interposed in said connecting means and operating in synchronism with the patients arterial pulse, for successively energizing said active electrodes in only one direction whereby the blood circulation of the body is aided and maintained.

3. A device for aiding and maintaining the circulation of the blood, comprising a dispersive electrode adapted to be placed in contact with a portion of the body of the patient, a plurality of active electrodes adapted to be placed in contact with the body of the patient and arranged in a spaced relationship along the direction toward the patients heart, a source of electric power of a form which, when acting upon a body muscle. causes contraction thereof, means connecting said source of power to said electrodes, and switch means interposed in said connecting means and operating in synchronism with the patients ar terial pulse rate for successively energizing saict active electrodes only in a direction toward the, heart, said switch means comprising a plurality/ of electrical contact members connected to said power source and connecting means, a movable brush adapted to successively make electrical connection with said electrical contact members, and means for causing the movement of said brush, said last named being rendered effective in synchronism with the patients arterial pulse rate.

4. A device for aiding and maintaining the circulation of the blood, comprising a dispersive electrode adapted to be placed in contact with a selected portion of the body of a patient, a plurality of active electrodes adapted to be placed in contact with the body of the patient and arranged in a spaced relationship along the direction toward the patients heart, a source of electric power of a form which, when acting upon a body muscle, causes contractions thereof, means 7.1 suecessivelyengageali of said stationary contact members whereby circuits are closed to successive-a 1y energize said active electrodes, and means for restoring said movable contact member by moving the same in the opposite direction to initial position. and means whereby saidy means for. moving said movable contact member synchronizedY with the heart beat of the patient. 5;. The construction according to-y claim 4' in which means are provided for disconnecting saidv stationary contact members.` from said:V power source at the end of the said predeterx'ninedl periodof movement of said movable contact member.L

A W.` SCHENKER.-v i 

